Intermediate accessory for camera system, and camera system using the same

Abstract

An intermediate accessory enables a camera and an exchange lens to communicate with each other through an information processor configured to provide predetermined processing for information received from one of the camera and the exchange lens, and to transmit information that has undergone the predetermined processing, to the other of the camera and the exchange lens, while the camera and the exchange lens are being attached. The intermediate accessory obtains lens identification information from the exchange lens, which is used to identify the exchange lens. The intermediate accessory enables a camera and an exchange lens to communicate with each other without intervening the information processor and transfers to an operation restricting mode used to restrict at least part of an operation the intermediate accessory, when the lens identification information indicates a specific exchange lens that does not require the predetermined processing.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention relates to a camera system that attaches an intermediate accessory between a camera and an exchange lens.[0003]2. Description of the Related Art[0004]In the camera system including a camera and an exchange lens, optical information peculiar to an exchange lens, such as information of a focal length, a stop, focus sensitivity, and a focus correcting amount) is communicated to the camera. When possessing the optical information peculiar to the exchange lens, the camera can provide appropriate autofocus (“AF”) and auto-exposure (“AE”) in combination with that exchange lens.[0005]One of such camera systems may enable an intermediate accessory, such as an extender, to be attached between the camera and the exchange lens. When the intermediate accessory is attached, the optical information peculiar to the intermediate accessory as well as the optical information of the exchange lens needs to be considere...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011]The present invention provides an intermediate accessory and a camera system using the same, which can reduce useless power consumption while avoiding malfunctions of the intermediate accessory and camera system.

Problems solved by technology

However, when a new intermediate accessory with a new design is combined with an old camera and an old exchange lens each of which has an old design or function, the old camera and the old exchange lens have no optical information of the new intermediate accessory and thus cannot provide the above correction processing of the optical information.

In addition, if a new camera communicates with a new exchange lens with a protocol which the intermediate accessory cannot normally recognize before the intermediate accessory detects the new camera and the new lens, the intermediate accessory may work improperly and consequently the entire camera system is likely to malfunction.

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